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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-05-03, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007.Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie GroppAdvertising, Ken Warwick & Kelly Quesenberry The CitizenP.O. Box 429,BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152,BRUSSELS, Ont. N0G 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Looking Back Through the Years Member of the Ontario Press Council The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels,Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc.Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $32.00/year ($30.19 + $1.81 G.S.T.) in Canada; $92.00/year in U.S.A.and $175.00/year in other foreign countries.Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error,only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com May 3, 1950 The Huron Presbyterial of the Women’s Missionary Society celebrated its 25th anniversary. Italian political experts and insiders were predicting a violent blow-up to occur between the feuding Soviet Russia and Yugoslavia. The big question remained of exactly where and what this pent up anger would affect. The Stalin-Tito private cold war involving increased Soviet armed pressure against the Belgrade government was predicted to be a few weeks away. May 3, 1961 Rev. David James Lane of Clinton was honoured with a commemorative brass plaque in gratitude of his many years as minister. Rev. Lane had been minister for 19 years at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Clinton, and continued to serve as minister at the Presbyterian Churches in Blyth and Auburn. In total, Rev. Lane had been a minister for over half a century, and even received an honourary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Presbyterian College in Montreal. The architectural firm Murphy and Mackey were awarded the 1961 R. S. Reynolds Memorial Award for their outstanding architectural excellence. The firm was awarded $25,000 for the design of the Climatron a large display greenhouse in the Missouri Botanical Garden, in St. Louis. The structure consisted of a geodesic dome, 70 feet high, and made of aluminum and glass. Famous artist Thomas Hart Benton had completed a beautiful large scale mural inside the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Montana. Months of research and eight months of painting went into the perfection of this masterpiece. Winston Churchill, then 86, made a special visit to New York. The former British prime minister arrived aboard his yacht, the Christina, accompanied by two nurses. May 3, 1972 Yet another attraction was added to the building lineup to entertain during the Brussels Centennial celebrations. Skydivers had been hired to highlight activities of the event to be held over the July 1 weekend. The divers would drop from 8,000 feet and land on the ball diamond, with a morning and afternoon jump planned. Local Girl Guide Stephanie Watts was presented with her Gold Cord, not only the highest merit in the Guides, but also the last ever to be presented in Canada. The distribution of the Gold Cords was to be discontinued in Canada. The Brussels town council made a request to the OWRC to prepare a proposal for a village wide sanitary sewer system. Council also requested that a representative of the Huron County Board of Education make an appearance at a council meeting to explain the increased levy which was continuing to raise education costs in the area. Local dancers Carol Wheeler, Katherine Cardiff and Susan Langlois passed their Highland Dance exams. Wheeler was the winner of three medals at the Western Ontario Highland Dancing Competition held at Fanshawe Collegiate. The three girls, who had only been taking lessons a short time, were the only girls out of 25 to pass their 14 dances in the short time. May 3, 1988 Blyth reeve Albert A. Wasson was injured in a car crash which occurred at the intersection of Hwys. 4 and 86. A Brussels man was attempting a left-hand turn onto Hwy. 86 when he cut across in front of the reeve’s vehicle and collided. Wasson suffered a dislocation of his big toe, and was sporting a large plaster cast. Damage to his vehicle was estimated at $3,000. The Brussels man was charged with making an improper turn. Blyth firefighters rushed to the Blyth Inn Hotel to put out a fire which had started during a roofing project over the lounge and quickly spread to the wooden walls of the main building. The flames were quickly extinguished. Students from Brussels Public School were scouring the village for litter as part of the annual Pitch In clean-up campaign. The students collected many bags of trash from the parks, streets, and along the Maitland River. A new joint clothing store was to have its grand opening in Blyth. The House Village Shoppes was the joint stores of Dressing Room Only clothing shop, owned by Sherry Reavie, and Blu-mers loungerie, owned by Valerie Gauley. May 1, 1991 Students from Brussels Public School were responsible for the planting of 2,100 new trees in the village as part of Earth Week. The trees were obtained free of charge from the Ministry of Natural Resources because of their educational and environmental purposes. The planting was hoped to bring the children closer to nature. Playing at the Park Theatre was Green Card, “the story of two people who got married, met, and then fell in love.” Also playing was The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter. THE EDITOR, Habitat for Humanity Huron County is putting on its third annual Walk for Hope on June 16 in Exeter. This is a major fundraiser for our work in Huron County and we need the support of as many people as possible to make this a success. It’s easy and enjoyable to take part. Once you receive the registration package, collect pledges from friends, neighbours, faith groups, service clubs, anywhere that you have contacts. It’s a great cause and a healthy way to spend a Saturday morning. This year’s route will be the beautiful Morrison Trail. You can request a registration package by filling out an on-line request form at http://www.habitathuroncounty.ca/events htm You may also call the event organizer, Chuck Mallette at 519- 262-3117 if you have any questions. Please bring along your friends and family. High school students can participate in order to help fulfill the 40 hours of community service required for grandatuion. Habitat for Humanity Huron County needs your help and support. Please plan to take part and contact us today. David Barnett Habitat for Humanity Huron County. THE EDITOR, I am writing this to the person or persons who removed the cement gnome from the yard where we are temporarily staying in Blyth. We lost our home to a fire, lost one of our pets and had only the clothes on our backs and two cement lawn ornaments left of all our possessions. If the person(s) responsible would kindly return it, it would be appreciated. Thanks. Maureen Montgomery. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Choice isn’t easy The release last week of the federal government’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions renews the old debate about which we can less afford: to drastically cut pollution, or to not cut it. Prior to unveiling the plan, the federal government tried to create the mood for its acceptance by releasing a report that said compliance with the targets Canada agreed to under the Kyoto agreement would drive the country into a recession. Environmentalists said slower action against greenhouse gases might save us from early pain, but will leave the country uncompetitive with countries that have adopted new technology for the future world of energy efficiency, not to mention contribute to climate changes that could endanger the future of our grandchildren. All this debate ignores the essential point: governments do not create greenhouse gases — we do. Government is being asked to take away our choices because we haven’t the strength to change our own habits. We’re saying, in effect: “Please stop me because I can’t help myself”. Globe and Mail columnist Margaret Wente hit the nail on the head recently when she said the greatest creator of greenhouse gases is prosperity. If we can only afford to walk or to ride a bicycle, we won’t contribute pollution from a car. If we can only afford a small car, we’ll pollute less than if we can afford a big luxury car. If we can’t afford to travel, we won’t be on a jet plane spewing tons of carbon into the atmosphere. A small house produces less waste than a large one. Prosperity doesn’t need to create pollution, of course. No matter how rich you are you could decide to live a low-carbon lifestyle. It’s just that few of us do. We’re much better at justifying to ourselves why our “little” bit of pollution isn’t really going to make much difference in the big picture. For that matter, some argue (including Wente), whatever Canada can do to cut greenhouse gases is a small thing compared to the size of the problem on a world scale. Each of us either adds to the problem or reduces it. Certainly our efforts are a small part of a big solution, but it adds up. We could take personal responsibility and change our lifestyles. More likely, we’ll leave it to government to force us to change — then we’ll complain about government interfering in our lives. — KR We look hypocritical Canada looks downright hypocritical on the international scene as our government continues to criticize China for its human rights record, while either denying torture is being used in Afghanistan, or saying those being tortured are only Taliban terrorists so it doesn’t matter (pick your day and government spokesperson). Loyalty can be a great trait, but not when it makes you defend the indefensible. There’s been plenty of evidence prisoners have been mistreated after being turned over to Afghan authorities by Canadian troops but in blindly supporting this government, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his cabinet ministers claim there’s no proof, and don’t seem interested in finding any. The Prime Minister took a principled stand against China, upsetting some business leaders. Now, however, that stand looks silly in light of his acceptance of poor civil rights from an ally.— KR & Letters to the editor